Shelton State Community College to Induct Bobby Sprowl at Hall of Fame Ceremony June 21
June 10, 2025 – Shelton State Athletics is thrilled to announce the induction of Bobby Sprowl into the Athletics Hall of Fame on June 21.
During his 35-year career, Bobby Sprowl has won more than 1,200 games, sent more than 300 players to four-year schools, had 30 players drafted in the Major League Draft, had three former players play Major League Baseball, and secured 18 Alabama Community College Conference regular-season championships, eight ACCC Region XXII championships, eight South District championships and taken eight teams to the NJCAA World Series.
Sprowl is a three-time Hall of Fame Coach. In 2010 Sprowl was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches (AlaBCA) Hall of Fame alongside Joey Lloyd (Pleasant Grove High School), Randy Nolen (Dadeville High School) and Bobby Pierce (Troy University). Sprowl and Pierce were assistant coaches under former Alabama head coach Dr. Barry Shollenberger from 1990-94. In 2024, Sprowl was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame. Sprowl was also named to The University of Alabama All-Century Baseball Team in 1993.
Overall, Sprowl has compiled a 1,232-726 (.630) record as head coach of the Bucs. His 1,232 wins rank seventh among active NJCAA head coaches. He is also ranks 21st on the all-time wins list for NJCAA baseball coaches. Sprowl is one of 13 head coaches in the state of Alabama to win 1,000 or more games.
Sprowl has been involved in 88 percent of the College’s baseball games (1,958 of 2,213) and 88 percent of the program’s total wins (1,231 of 1,381).
A native of Tampa, Florida, Sprowl graduated from Chamberlain High School before he moved to Tuscaloosa to attend The University of Alabama. He played for the Crimson Tide in 1976-77. He was second team All-American and consensus All-SEC selection in 1977. He led the NCAA with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings and finished the season with 118 strikeouts, which still ranks second on the UA single-season strikeout list.
He was drafted in the second round of the 1977 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. As the No. 39 overall pick of the draft, Sprowl was the first SEC player selected in the draft. He was also the eighth college player taken in the draft.
Sprowl spent eight seasons in professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Baltimore Orioles. He made his Major League Debut on Sept. 5, 1978, against the Baltimore Orioles at Municipal Stadium in Baltimore. Despite a solid effort in his debut, Sprowl was outdueled by future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer 4-1 in his debut. Later that season, the Red Sox dropped a one-game playoff to the New York Yankees for the AL Eastern Division championship. The Yankees posted a 5-4 win in the Bucky Dent’s famous three-run home run on Oct. 2, 1978, at Fenway Park. Sprowl was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Bob Watson on Jun3, 13, 1979. He played three seasons with the Astros and was a part of two NL Western Division championships. He played his final MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 3, 1981. In 1983, he was traded from the Astros to the Baltimore Orioles.
During his professional career, Sprowl was the teammate of seven different Hall of Famers, including Dennis Eckersley, Carlton Fisk, Joe Morgan, Jim Rice, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, and Carl Yastrzemski. He also played alongside MLB Executive Bob Watson and future MLB managers Bruce Bochy, Phil Garner, Butch Hobson, Art Howe, and Dave Roberts. Other teammates were Fred Lynn, Joe Niekro, J.R. Richard, and Luis Tiant.
Following his playing days, Sprowl returned to Tuscaloosa and was named the head coach at Shelton State Community College following the inaugural season in 1985. He served as the head coach from 1986-89, leading the Bucs to a 138-45 (.000) mark, including back-to-back 39-win seasons in 1988 and 1989.
In 1990, Sprowl joined Dr. Barry Shollenberger’s staff at The University of Alabama as assistant coach and pitching coach. The Crimson Tide posted a 42-20 record and finished second to Florida State in the NCAA Atlantic Regional in Tallahassee.
After five years at his alma mater, Sprowl returned to Shelton State as head coach in 1995.
Sprowl made an immediate impact leading the Bucs to 138 wins in his first four seasons. The 1988 team posted a 39-9 overall record, setting a then-school record for wins. The Bucs were a perfect 20-0 in ACCC play in 1988, the only team in school history to post a perfect conference record. The team featured two NJCAA All-Americans, shortstop Russ Davis and pitcher Randy Vaughn. Davis, who became the first former Buc to play Major League Baseball, set the single-season school record with 14 home runs. Vaughn posted an NJCAA leading 0.82 ERA in 1988. In 1989, Sprowl led the Bucs to another 39-9 record, including a 16-5 mark in ACCC play.
Since then, the Bucs have played in the ACCC State Tournament 28 straight years, winning the championship in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Shelton State advanced to the NJCAA Tournament all eight seasons, finishing as the national runner up in 2008.
Sprowl guided the Bucs to back-to-back 40-win seasons in 2000 and 2001. The 2000 team posted a 40-16 overall record, including an impressive 26-2 mark in ACCC play. The 2001 team went 40-18 to match the school record with 40 wins. The 2001 team turned in a 23-4 ACCC record, giving a Bucs a 49-6 combined ACCC record in 2000-01.
Sprowl won his 1,000th game at Shelton State with a 9-0 win over Lawson State on March 30, 2019. In the milestone win, the Bucs snapped a scoreless tie with four runs in the fourth inning. He notched his 1,100th all-time win with an 11-5 victory at Birmingham Southern on April 13, 2022. The Bucs overcame an early three-run deficit and scored six runs in the seventh inning for the milestone win.
Sprowl is married to the former Teresa Gibson and the couple has two children, Trevor and Graceson. Trevor played at Shelton State (2012-13) and was on the 2012 NJCAA World Series team. He is currently an assistant coach for the Bucs and serves as first base coach during games. Graceson is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama and works closely with the Shelton State baseball program with administrative duties, including planning team functions and events. Sprowl has another son, John Mark Sprowl, who also played baseball for his father at Shelton State.
The 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Martin Campus Atrium. Tickets for the ceremony are $75 each or $500 for a table. Tickets may be purchased by visiting Shelton State Community College Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony. Cocktail attire is requested for all guests.
For questions or additional information concerning the Shelton State Community College Athletics Hall of Fame, please contact SSCC Athletic Director Cara Crosslin at ccrosslin@sheltonstate.edu.
